7 ways to get the most from your moisturiser

With winter fast approaching, there's no better time to reassess your moisturising routine. Because nippy weather and harsh British winds can wreak havoc on your quest for smooth, supple skin.

Whether you're a moisturiser devotee who dutifully lathers on the lotion from head to toe every morning or a member of the 'I don't have time club' who only moisturises twice a week, these 7 simple hacks will help you get the maximum benefits from your go-to products.

Give it a good home

To get the most bang for your buck, make sure you’re storing your skincare products carefully. Moisturisers should be kept at room temperature or below to help increase their shelf life, so keep them tucked away in a drawer or a bathroom cabinet with lids and caps screwed tightly on. You can keep some face creams in the fridge – applying a cool moisturiser onto the face can do wonders for deflating under-eye bags and reducing puffiness and feels gloriously refreshing when you've just rolled out of bed.

Follow the three-minute rule

Timing is everything when it comes to moisturising, and the best time to apply any type of moisturiser is within three minutes of getting out of the shower or bath, when your skin is still slightly damp. Damp skin acts like a sponge which means it will quickly absorb whatever comes its way, so applying moisturiser before your skin is completely dry is a great way to lock in extra moisture. Make sure you've patted your skin down with a towel beforehand - moisturising skin when it's too wet will cause it to slide right off.

Choose the right formula

Decide what your skin concern is and find a moisturiser that will work harder for you. For example, if you're worried about dark spots or dullness, it might be a targeted face serum you need. If your oily T-zone is prone to blemishes, opt for a non-comedogenic moisturiser that won't block your pores. The skin on your body is thicker and more resilient than the skin on your face, which makes choosing a body lotion a little bit easier. To avoid irritation (especially after shaving), go for a hydrating all-rounder that contains naturally active ingredients to soothe and nourish all skin types, like the AVEENO Daily Moisturising Lotion. Your parched winter skin will thank you for it.

Spread the love

It's all too easy to find yourself regularly slathering moisturiser all over your legs and face, only to completely forget about the rest of your body. Your neck and décolletage are two areas that are first to show signs of ageing, so make sure you're applying moisturiser here liberally. In cold and flu season when you're washing your hands more regularly, stop them from drying out by using an intensive hand lotion afterwards. And never forget your heels - the thick skin on the soles of your feet means they're prone to cracking and calluses, so try to get into the habit of moisturising them every night before bed.

Apply portion control

You might think that slathering on as much moisturiser as possible is the path to soft, supple skin. Actually, it's not. If you find yourself struggling to rub in all of your moisturiser then you're applying too much. If your lotion or cream doesn't spread across your skin easily, you're not applying enough. As a general rule, use a 20p-sized blob on your face and a 50p-sized dollop per limb. Getting the amount right is important - not only will it save you money as you're wasting less, but applying too thick a layer could actually clog your pores and make your skin look worse.

Have a 24-hour strategy

Face moisturisers are called ‘day creams’ and ‘night creams’ for a reason. Day creams focus on protection and often contain SPF and antioxidants to help shield the skin from UVA and UVB rays and help protect against free radical damage. Your skin does most of its repairing, restoring and regenerating at night, and night creams are designed to support this. They're thicker and usually contain higher concentrations of anti-ageing ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid, which can get to work uninterrupted while you sleep. For best results, make sure you're using each at the correct time of day.

Prioritise your prep

What you do before applying your moisturiser is just as important as the application process itself. Body lotion won't be fully absorbed if you're putting it directly onto dry, flaky skin - so make sure you're exfoliating away any dead skin cells beforehand (think legs, knees and elbows). Warm skin will absorb more product as raising the skin's temperature causes your blood vessels and pores to dilate in an attempt to cool you down, so wash your face with lukewarm water over cold water.

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